U.S. patent number 10,170,865 [Application Number 15/541,508] was granted by the patent office on 2019-01-01 for shielded electric wire connection structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The grantee listed for this patent is AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Kouji Fukumoto, Daisuke Hashimoto, Toshiya Hirooka, Tetsuya Iida, Yousuke Kurono, Haruki Kusamaki, Yasuhiro Makido, Hiroyuki Matsuoka, Junpei Nakamoto, Takuya Tate.
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United States Patent |
10,170,865 |
Makido , et al. |
January 1, 2019 |
Shielded electric wire connection structure
Abstract
The electric shielded wire connection structure includes: a
lower side case that accommodates a rotary electric machine; an
upper side case that is positioned immediately above, and facing,
the lower side case and accommodates an inverter; a plurality of
electric wires that is arranged in a state where one end thereof is
connected to a lower side terminal block immediately under the
upper side case, the other end thereof is connected to an upper
side terminal block at a wall surface side end part of the upper
side case, and the plurality of electric wires is bent from the
position immediately under the upper side case so as to face the
wall surface; and a braided shielding member that shields the
plurality of electric wires and is arranged for the plurality of
electric wires only at the side opposite to the surface facing the
upper side case.
Inventors: |
Makido; Yasuhiro (Toyota,
JP), Kurono; Yousuke (Okazaki, JP),
Kusamaki; Haruki (Okazaki, JP), Iida; Tetsuya
(Yokkaichi, JP), Nakamoto; Junpei (Yokkaichi,
JP), Tate; Takuya (Yokkaichi, JP),
Matsuoka; Hiroyuki (Yokkaichi, JP), Fukumoto;
Kouji (Yokkaichi, JP), Hashimoto; Daisuke
(Yokkaichi, JP), Hirooka; Toshiya (Yokkaichi,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken
Yokkaichi-shi, Mie-ken
Yokkaichi-shi, Mie-ken
Osaka-shi, Osaka |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
(Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken, JP)
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD. (Yokkaichi-Shi, Mie-Ken,
JP)
AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. (Yokkaichi-Shi, Mie-Ken,
JP)
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Chuo-Ku, Osaka,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
56415727 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/541,508 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 16, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2015/079256 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
July 05, 2017 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2016/111070 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
July 14, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180019549 A1 |
Jan 18, 2018 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 7, 2015 [JP] |
|
|
2015-001770 |
Aug 31, 2015 [JP] |
|
|
2015-170198 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
24/52 (20130101); H01R 13/5205 (20130101); H01R
13/6593 (20130101); H01R 13/5216 (20130101); B60L
50/16 (20190201); H01R 13/6582 (20130101); H01R
13/648 (20130101); Y02T 10/7072 (20130101); H01R
13/627 (20130101); Y02T 10/70 (20130101); H01R
2103/00 (20130101); H01R 2201/26 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/6582 (20110101); H01R 13/648 (20060101); H01R
13/52 (20060101); H01R 13/6593 (20110101); H01R
24/52 (20110101); H01R 13/627 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/607.41
;174/350 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
103959573 |
|
Jul 2014 |
|
CN |
|
52-094194 |
|
Jul 1977 |
|
JP |
|
2013-012457 |
|
Jan 2013 |
|
JP |
|
2013-059238 |
|
Mar 2013 |
|
JP |
|
2013-115071 |
|
Jun 2013 |
|
JP |
|
2013-176279 |
|
Sep 2013 |
|
JP |
|
2014-073811 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
JP |
|
2012039490 |
|
Mar 2012 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Patel; Tulsidas C
Assistant Examiner: Leigh; Peter G
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A shielded electric wire connecting structure, comprising: a
lower case that has a lower terminal base and houses a rotary
electric machine; an upper case that has an upper terminal base and
houses an inverter, the upper case being disposed directly above
the lower case so as to be opposed to the lower case; a plurality
of electric wires including first ends that are connected to the
lower terminal base directly below the upper case and second ends
that are connected to the upper terminal base at an end portion on
a surface side of a wall of the upper case, the plurality of
electric wires being placed in a state of being bent from a
position directly below the upper case to a position opposed to the
wall, and a braided shield component that is attached to the
plurality of electric wires without using both the lower case and
the upper case, and placed to shield the plurality of electric
wires only on an opposite side of the plurality of electric wires
from a face thereof opposed to the upper case.
2. The shielded electric wire connecting structure according to
claim 1, wherein: the plurality of electric wires constitutes a
combined electric wire member; the first ends are coupled to a
lower connector, and the second ends are coupled to an upper
connector; the lower connector is fastened to the lower case; the
upper connector is fastened to the upper case, and both ends of the
braided shield component are coupled to the lower connector and the
upper connector.
3. The shielded electric wire connecting structure according to
claim 1, wherein the upper case is composed of an electrically
conductive metal, and has a rectangular box shape.
4. The shielded electric wire connecting structure according to
claim 1, wherein the braided shield component comprises tin-plated
annealed copper wires.
5. The shielded electric wire connecting structure according to
claim 1, further comprising a U-shaped lower bracket that holds a
first end of the braided shield component, and a U-shaped upper
bracket that holds a second end of braided shield component.
6. The shielded electric wire connecting structure according to
claim 1, wherein a lower bracket formed of an electrically
conductive material is joined to a first end of the braided shield
component, an upper bracket formed of an electrically conductive
material is joined to a second end of the braided shield component,
a lower fastening metal fixture joined to the plurality of electric
wires is fastened to the lower bracket, an upper metal plate joined
to the plurality of electric wires is joined to the upper bracket,
the upper metal plate is fastened to the upper case, and the lower
bracket is fastened to the lower case.
7. A shielded electric wire connecting structure, comprising: a
lower case that has a lower terminal base and houses a rotary
electric machine; an upper case that has an upper terminal base and
houses an inverter, the upper case being disposed directly above
the lower case so as to be opposed to the lower case; a plurality
of electric wires including first ends that are connected to the
lower terminal base directly below the upper case and second ends
that are connected to the upper terminal base at an end portion on
a surface side of a wall of the upper case, the plurality of
electric wires being placed in a state of being bent from a
position directly below the upper case to a position opposed to the
wall, and a braided shield component that is placed to shield the
plurality of electric wires only on an opposite side of the
plurality of electric wires from a face thereof opposed to the
upper case; wherein the braided shield component comprises a
plurality of warp sections, which have electrical conductivity and
extend along the plurality of electric wires so as to be connected
to a first fastening member, formed of an electrically conductive
material and fixed to the upper case, and a second fastening
member, formed of an electrically conductive material and fixed to
the lower case, and a weft member, which is formed of a resin
material and woven across the plurality of warp sections while
intersecting each other, and the weft member has a tensile strength
per unit cross sectional area higher than that of a weft member
formed of copper.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a National Stage of International Application
No. PCT/JP2015/079256, filed Oct. 16, 2015, claiming priority based
on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2015-001770, filed Jan. 7, 2015
and 2015-170198, filed Aug. 31, 2015, the contents of all of which
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a shielded electric wire
connecting structure including a lower case which has a lower
terminal base and houses a rotary electric machine, an upper case
which has an upper terminal base and houses an inverter, a
plurality of electric wires connected to the lower terminal base
and the upper terminal base, and a braided shield component.
BACKGROUND
Conventionally, a plurality of electric wires have been used for
connecting a rotary electric machine and an inverter. The plurality
of electric wires may be assembled in some instances into a
collective electric wire member.
Patent Literature 1 describes that a lower case houses a rotary
electric machine, an inverter is housed in an upper case which is
secured to the lower case directly above the lower case, and the
upper case and the lower case are connected to connectors of a
collective electric wire member.
Patent Literature 2 describes that a collective electric wire
member used for connecting a rotary electric machine and an
inverter is formed as a shielded electric wire component by
collectively covering circumferences of electric wires with a
braided shield component formed in the shape of a sleeve.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: JP 2014-073811 A
Patent Literature 2: JP 2013-115071 A
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
In the structure disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the braided
shield component is connected to an upper case and a lower case
having electrical conductivity via connectors on both ends of the
shielded electric wire component, to implement a shield structure
for preventing electromagnetic waves. In this structure, however,
because the sleeve-shaped braided shield component is arranged
around the collective electric wire member, there is a possibility
that the shielded electric wire component cannot be bent along a
desired direction.
On the other hand, in the structure described in Patent Literature
1, the upper case is secured directly above the lower case, and the
connector on one end of the collective electric wire member is
connected to the lower case in a small space directly below the
upper case. Further, it is necessary that the collective electric
wire member should be greatly bent in order to connect the
connector on the other end of the collective electric wire member
to a terminal base on a wall surface side of the upper case. This
may raise a risk that work efficiency in installation is
deteriorated in the structure described in Patent Literature 1 when
circumferences of a plurality of electric wires are collectively
covered by the braided shield component. Particularly, in a case
where the braided shield component is covered so as to collectively
surround all the circumferences of the plurality of electric wires
placed in a line, an area of the braided shield component is
increased. As a result of this, it becomes difficult to bend the
shielded electric wire component along a desired direction, which
may result in deteriorated work efficiency in installation.
Further, there is room for improvement in terms of costs for the
structure in which the circumferences of the plurality of electric
wires are collectively covered by the braided shield component.
An object of the present invention is to provide a shielded
electric wire connecting structure including a plurality of
electric wires placed in a state of being bent from a position
directly below an upper case to a position opposed to a wall
surface of the upper case, the shielded electric wire connecting
structure being capable of contributing to improved work efficiency
in installation and reduced costs.
Solution to Problem
A shielded electric wire connecting structure according to the
present invention includes a lower case that has a lower terminal
base and houses a rotary electric machine, an upper case that has
an upper terminal base and houses an inverter, the upper case being
disposed directly above the lower case so as to be opposed to the
lower case, a plurality of electric wires whose one ends are
connected to the lower terminal base directly below the upper case
while the other ends are connected to the upper terminal base at an
end portion on a surface side of a wall of the upper case, the
plurality of electric wires being placed in a state of being bent
from a position directly below the upper case to a position opposed
to the wall, and a braided shield component that is placed to
shield the plurality of electric wires only on an opposite side of
the plurality of electric wires from a face thereof opposed to the
upper case.
According to the shielded electric wire connecting structure of the
present invention, the structure, which includes the plurality of
electric wires placed in the state of being bent from the position
directly below the upper case to the position opposed to the wall,
can be easily bent along a desired direction, and an area of the
braided shield component can be minimized. In this way, work
efficiency in installation can be improved while costs can be
reduced.
Preferably, in the shielded electric wire connecting structure
according to the present invention, the braided shield component
includes a plurality of warp sections, which have electrical
conductivity and extend along the plurality of electric wires so as
to be coupled to a first fastening member formed of an electrically
conductive material and fixed to the upper case and a second
fastening member formed of an electrically conductive material and
fixed to the lower case, and a weft member, which is formed of a
resin material and woven across the plurality of warp sections
while intersecting each other. Further, in this structure, the weft
member has a tensile strength per unit cross sectional area higher
than that of a weft member formed of copper.
According to the above-described preferable configuration, the
tensile strength of the weft member becomes higher, while
electromagnetic wave shielding properties are not affected by
electrical conductivity of the weft member. Because the tensile
strength is increased, a speed of braiding the braided shield
component can be increased. In addition, material costs of the weft
member can be reduced. In this way, improved strength of the
braided shield component and reduced costs can both be realized
without incurring deterioration in the electromagnetic wave
shielding properties.
Preferably, in the shielded electric wire connecting structure
according to the present invention, the plurality of electric wires
whose one ends are coupled to a lower connector while the other
ends are coupled to an upper connector constitute a combined
electric wire component, the lower connector is fixed to the lower
case, the upper connector is fixed to the upper case, and both ends
of the braided shield component are connected to the lower
connector and the upper connector.
According to the above-described preferable configuration, both
ends of the braided shield component are coupled via the lower
connector and the upper connector to the lower case and the upper
case. This can eliminate a necessity to secure a longitudinal
middle portion of the braided shield component to the plurality of
electric wires for coupling the braided shield component to the
lower case and to the upper case. For this reason, the braided
shield component and the plurality of electric wires can be easily
bent in a desired direction, which can, in turn, contribute to
further improved work efficiency in installation.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
According to the shielded electric wire connecting structure of the
present invention, improved work efficiency in installation and
reduced costs can both be realized in the structure including the
plurality of electric wires placed in the state of being bent from
the position directly below the upper case to the position opposed
to the wall surface of the upper case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A A perspective view of a shielded electric wire connecting
structure according to an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 1B A front view of the shielded electric wire connecting
structure according to the embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 An enlarged view showing a part A indicated in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 3A A cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B indicated in
FIG. 1B.
FIG. 3B A perspective view showing a state in which a lower
connector is attached to a top surface of a lower case.
FIG. 4A A front view showing, in a position extended along a flat
plane, a shielded electric wire component constituting the shielded
electric wire connecting structure according to the embodiment of
this invention.
FIG. 4B A cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C indicated in
FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 A cross-sectional view taken along a line D-D indicated in
FIG. 4A.
FIG. 6A A diagram showing a combined electric wire component
constituting the shielded electric wire component.
FIG. 6B A diagram showing a shield unit constituting the shielded
electric wire component.
FIG. 7 A schematic diagram showing a situation where an
electromagnetic shielding structure suppresses electromagnetic wave
noise from being affected to the outside in the embodiment of this
invention.
FIG. 8A A perspective view of a shielded electric wire component
constituting a comparative example of the shielded electric wire
connecting structure.
FIG. 8B A cross-sectional view taken along a line E-E indicated in
FIG. 8A.
FIG. 9 A diagram showing a shield unit constituting the shielded
electric wire member in FIG. 8A.
FIG. 10 A schematic diagram showing a braided shield component
constituting another example of the shielded electric wire
connecting structure according to the embodiment of this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to drawings. In the following
description, shapes of components, the number of components, and
their other features are described by way of illustration, and may
be changed depending on specifications of a device incorporating a
shielded electric wire connecting structure. In the description
below, similar components are identified by identical reference
numerals, and descriptions related to these components will not be
repeated. Although the shielded electric wire connecting structure
will be explained below with reference to an example in which the
shielded electric wire connecting structure is used for coupling a
rotary electric machine and an inverter to drive a vehicle, the
shielded electric wire connecting structure may be used for
coupling a rotary electric machine and an inverter which are not
intended to be used in a vehicle.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the shielded electric wire
connecting structure in this embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front
view of the shielded electric wire connecting structure. FIG. 2 is
an enlarged view of a part A indicated in FIG. 1A. FIG. 3A is a
cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B indicated in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a lower connector 43 in a
state attached to a top surface of a lower case 23. The shielded
electric wire connecting structure 10 is hereinafter simply
referred to as an "electric wire connecting structure 10".
The electric wire connecting structure 10 includes a lower unit 20,
an upper unit 30, and a shielded electric wire component 40. The
electric wire connecting structure 10 is formed of the lower unit
20 and the upper unit 30 connected to a plurality of electric wires
42 of the shielded electric wire component 40. The electric wire
connecting structure 10 is mounted on a vehicle and used therein.
The vehicle is a hybrid vehicle in which a not-illustrated engine
and a motor 21 being a rotary electric machine are installed as a
drive source of the vehicle. The vehicle may be any other
electrically-driven vehicle, such as an electric vehicle or a fuel
cell electric vehicle, as long as the vehicle is equipped with the
rotary electric machine. In the description below, although an
example in which the motor 21 being the rotary electric machine and
a generator 22 being the rotary electric machine are electrically
connected through the shielded electric wire component 40 to two
inverters 32 and 33 (FIG. 3A) is described, the present embodiment
may be applied to an arrangement in which the shielded electric
wire component 40 is used for connecting only one rotary electric
machine to a corresponding inverter.
The lower unit 20 includes the motor 21, the generator 22, a
not-illustrated power dividing mechanism, the lower case 23, and a
lower terminal base 24. The lower unit 20 is also referred to as a
trans axle or T/A. The motor 21 and the generator 22 may be motor
generators, each of which has the capability to function as both an
electrically-powered motor and a generator.
The power dividing mechanism is connected in a position between the
motor 21, the engine and the generator 22. The lower case 23 houses
the motor 21, the generator 22, and the power dividing mechanism.
The lower case 23 is composed of a metal having electrical
conductivity, such as, for example, iron or an aluminum alloy. The
power dividing mechanism is composed of, for example, a planetary
gear mechanism. The lower case 23 is attached and secured via a
bracket to a not-illustrated vehicle body constituting the
vehicle.
Power from at least one of the engine and the motor 21 is passed
through the power dividing mechanism to an axle which is not
illustrated. When a vehicle wheel coupled to the axle is actuated,
the vehicle is driven to travel.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower terminal base 24 is attached to an
upper end portion of the lower case 23, such as, for example, a top
surface U, and is equipped with six terminal fittings 24a (only one
of which is illustrated in FIG. 3A) whose number corresponds to the
number of electric wires 42 in the shielded electric wire member
40, which will be described below.
The motor 21 is a three-phase AC motor having a three-phase stator
coil. The generator 22 is a three-phase AC generator having a
three-phase stator coil. In each of the motor 21 and the generator
22, three power lines connected to corresponding ones of the
three-phase stator coils are respectively connected to three
corresponding terminal fittings 24a in the lower terminal base
24.
Referring back to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the upper unit 30 is fixed
directly above the lower unit 20 to a position where the bottom
surface of the upper unit 30 is opposed to the top surface of the
lower unit 20. More specifically, the upper unit 30 includes an
upper case 31 as described below. Then, two L-shaped brackets 80
placed on both sides of the upper unit 30 along a lateral direction
(x direction in FIG. 1B) are used to fixedly couple wall surfaces
of the upper case 31 to the top surface of the lower case 23. In
this way, the upper case 31 is placed directly above the lower case
23 so as to be opposed to the lower case 23. In FIGS. 1A, 1B to 3A,
and 3B, x, y, and z directions are defined. Atop surface P6 of the
upper case 31 is defined as a rectangular plane whose longitudinal
direction is defined as the x direction and whose short-side
direction is defined as the y direction, and a direction
perpendicular to the rectangular plane is defined as the z
direction. The x direction may be also referred to as the lateral
direction.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the upper unit 30 includes the upper case 31,
the first inverter 32, the second inverter 33, and an upper
terminal base 34. The upper case 31 is composed of an electrically
conductive metal, such as iron or an aluminum alloy, and formed in
a shape of a substantially rectangular box. Although FIG. 3A shows
the top surface P6 of the upper case 31, which is slightly inclined
relative to the horizontal plane, the upper case 31 may be
positioned with the top surface P6 aligned with a horizontal
plane.
The first inverter 32 and the second inverter 33 shown in FIG. 3A
include circuit boards equipped with, for example, switching
elements, such as transistors, and diodes. The first inverter 32 is
electrically coupled to a not-illustrated battery and the motor 21
(FIG. 1B), and functions to convert a direct current output from
the battery into a three-phase alternating current and output the
three-phase alternating current to a motor 21 side. The second
inverter 33 is electrically connected to a battery and the
generator 22, and functions to convert a three-phase alternating
current generated in the generator 22 into a direct current and
output the direct current to a battery side. When the engine is
actuated, for example, power of the engine is partially transmitted
through the power dividing mechanism to the generator for causing
the generator to produce the three-phase alternating current.
The upper terminal base 34 (FIG. 3A) is attached to a plate part
31a which has, among a first wall surface P1, a second wall surface
P2, a third wall surface P3, and a fourth wall surface P4
constituting external surfaces surrounding the periphery of the
upper case 31, the first wall surface P1 oriented to face one end
side (the right side in FIG. 3A) in the Y direction. The six
terminal fittings 34a (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3A)
are mounted on the upper terminal base 34. Three of the six
terminal fittings 34a are connected to the corresponding first
inverter 32. The remaining three other terminal fittings 34a are
connected to the corresponding second inverter 33.
The terminal fittings 34a on the upper terminal base 34 are opposed
to an opening 31b formed in the plate part 31a of the upper case
31. The upper case 31 may house components constituting a DC/DC
converter.
The upper unit 30 is secured to the top side of the lower unit 20
without interposing the vehicle body between the upper unit 30 and
the lower unit 20. In this way, it becomes possible to reduce a
distance H (FIGS. 1B and 3A) between the upper unit 30 and the
lower unit 20. Further, the upper unit 30 and the lower unit 20 are
connected to the below-described shielded electric wire component
40. Because of this, the entire length of the shielded electric
wire component 40 can be accordingly reduced.
FIG. 4A is a front view showing, in a position extended along a
flat plane, the shielded electric wire component 40 constituting
the electric wire connecting structure 10. FIG. 4B is a cross
sectional view taken along a line C-C in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a cross
sectional view taken along a line D-D in FIG. 4A. FIG. 6A shows a
combined electric wire component 41 constituting the shielded
electric wire component 40. FIG. 6B shows a shield unit 60
constituting the shielded electric wire component 40.
The shielded electric wire component 40 is composed of the combined
electric wire component 41 (FIG. 6A) connected to the shield unit
60 (FIG. 6B) constituting an electromagnetic wave shielding
structure. As shown in FIG. 6A, the combined electric wire
component 41 includes multiple (6, in the illustrated example)
electric wires 42, the lower connector 43, and the upper connector
47.
Each of the electric wires 42 is formed of an electric wire main
body 42a with a first terminal fitting 42b and a second terminal
fitting 42c connected to both ends of the electric wire main body
42a. Each electric wire main body 42a includes a conductor element
wire 42d (FIG. 3A) formed of a highly conductive metal, such as
copper or a copper alloy, and an insulating tube 42e formed of an
insulating material. Each electric wire main body 42a is formed by
covering the conductor element wire 42d except for both end
portions thereof with the insulating tube 42e. A plurality of
electric wire main bodies 42a are spaced apart from each other and
placed in a line along the lateral direction (the x direction).
The lower connector 43 is connected in common to one end portion
(the lower end portion in FIG. 6A) of each of the electric wire
main bodies 42a. The lower connector 43 is used for coupling one
ends of the electric wire main bodies 42a to the lower terminal
base 24 attached to the lower case 23 (FIG. 3A). More specifically,
the lower connector 43 includes a lower connector main body 44
formed of resin and a lower fastening metal fixture 46 (FIGS. 4A
and 6A) resin-molded to the lower connector main body 44. The six
first terminal fittings 42b, which are respectively connected to
the six electric wire main bodies 42a, are partially resin molded
to the lower connector main body 44. On one surface side (the
right-hand side in FIG. 5 and a paper surface side in FIG. 6A) of
the lower connector main body 44 opposed to the lower terminal base
24 (FIG. 3A) in an assembling time, a lower tube part 44a having an
elliptical shape in cross section is protrudingly formed. An
elliptically shaped through hole 44b is formed in an internal
region of the lower tube part 44a.
As shown in FIG. 5, one end portion (an upper end portion in FIG.
5) of each of the first terminal fittings 42b is joined by caulking
or other processing to an end portion (a lower end portion in FIG.
5) of the conductor element wire 42d (FIG. 5) exposed from the
insulating tube 42e at one end portion (the lower end portion in
FIG. 5) of a corresponding one of the electric wire main bodies
42a. In this way, the first terminal fittings 42b are electrically
connected to the electric wire main bodies 42a. The other end
portion of each of the first terminal fittings 42b on an opposite
side from the electric wire main bodies 42a is projected into the
through hole 44b in the lower tube part 44a so as to be connectable
with a power line that is coupled to the motor 21 (FIG. 1B) or the
generator 22 (FIG. 1B).
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A, the lower fastening metal fixture 46
of the lower connector 43 is resin-molded onto the lower tube part
44a of the lower connector main body 44 or onto a region around the
lower tube part 44a. In FIG. 5, the lower fastening metal fixture
46 is not illustrated in the drawing.
Further, in the lower fastening metal fixture 46, two caulking
parts 46a are formed on an end edge portion (an upper end edge
portion in FIGS. 4A and 6B) on a lower bracket 61 side of the
below-described shield unit 60 (FIG. 6B). Each of the caulking
parts 46a is formed of a region of the lower fastening metal
fixture 46 protruded from its end edge (the upper end edge in FIGS.
4A and 6B) on a lower bracket 61 side, by bending the protruded
region so as to have the shape of a letter L in cross section. The
tip end of each of the caulking parts 46a is caulk-fixed to an end
portion (a lower end portion in FIGS. 4A and 6B) of a
below-described lower U-shaped part 61a (FIGS. 4A and 6B) of the
lower bracket 61. In this way, the lower bracket 61 is fixed to the
lower fastening metal fixture 46.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A, the upper connector 47 is connected in
common to the other end portion (the upper end portion in FIGS. 4A
and 6A) of each of the electric wire main bodies 42a. The upper
connector 47 is used for coupling the other ends of the electric
wire main bodies 42a to the upper terminal base 34 attached to the
upper case 31 (FIG. 3A). More specifically, the upper connector 47
includes an upper connector main body 48 formed of resin and an
upper metal plate 50 resin-molded to the upper connector main body
48. The six second terminal fittings 42c, which are respectively
connected to the six electric wire main bodies 42a, are partially
resin-molded to the upper connector main body 48. On the other
surface side (the left-hand side in FIG. 5, the paper undersurface
side in FIG. 6A) of the upper connector main body 48 opposed to the
upper terminal base 34 (FIG. 3A), an upper tube part 48a having an
elliptical shape in cross section is protrudingly formed. An
elliptically shaped through hole 48b is formed in the upper tube
part 48a.
As shown in FIG. 5, one end portion (a lower end portion in FIG. 5)
of each of the second terminal fittings 42c is joined, in an area
not-illustrated in FIG. 5, by caulking or other processing to an
end portion of the conductor element wire 42d (FIG. 3A) exposed
from the insulating tube 42e at the other end portion (the upper
end portion in FIG. 5) of a corresponding one of the electric wire
main bodies 42a. In this way, the second terminal fittings 42c are
electrically connected to the electric wire main bodies 42a. The
other end portion of each of the second terminal fittings 42c on an
opposite side from the electric wire main bodies 42a is projected
into the through hole 48b in the upper tube part 48a so as to be
connectable with the corresponding inverter 32 (or 33) (FIG.
3A).
As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper metal plate 50 is screw-fixed to an
upper bracket 64 of the below-described shield unit 60 (FIGS. 4A
and 6B) by means of screws 65 (FIG. 4A). Holes 51 used for
inserting the screws 65 into the upper case 31 are respectively
formed in both end portions of the upper metal plate 50 along the x
direction.
As shown in FIG. 6B, the shield unit 60 includes a braided shield
component 62, the lower bracket 61, and the upper bracket 64. The
lower bracket 61 is joined to one end portion (a lower end portion
in FIG. 6B) of the braided shield component 62, while the upper
bracket 64 is joined to the other end portion (an upper end portion
in FIG. 6B) of the braided shield component 62. The braided shield
component 62 is formed by braiding extra fine metal wires having
electrical conductivity, such as, for example, tin-plated annealed
copper wires, into a plain weave. In FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 4A, the
braided shield component 62 is depicted with an oblique lattice for
the sake of clarifying positional relationships. Meanwhile, in
practice, the braided shield component 62 includes, as shown in
FIG. 6B, a first metal wire 62b and a second metal wire 62d. The
first metal wire 62b is a corrugated warp member including a
plurality of longitudinal sections 62a being warp sections arranged
along a longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 6B).
The second metal wire 62d is a corrugated weft member including a
plurality of lateral sections 62c being weft sections arranged
along the lateral direction. The lateral sections 62c intersect the
longitudinal sections 62a so as to be substantially orthogonal to
each other. Then, the braided shield component 62 is formed by
weaving one of the first metal wire 62b and the second metal wire
62d across the other of the metal wires 62b and 62d. For example,
the second metal wire 62d is woven across the plurality of
longitudinal sections 62a while intersecting each other. Further,
one of the first metal wire 62b and the second metal wire 62d may
be woven across the other of the first and second metal wires 62b
and 62d using a braiding machine (not illustrated). Electrically
conductive resin element wires may be used in place of the metal
wires constituting the braided shield component 62. The plurality
of electric wires 42 are shielded with the braided shield component
62 configured as described above. Specifically, the braided shield
component 62 opposed to the plurality of electric wire main bodies
42a is configured to suppress radiation noise in electromagnetic
waves that are output from the electric wires 42 being emitted to
the outside.
The lower bracket 61 is formed of a metal plate and equipped with
the lower U-shaped part 61a placed in an intermediate region and
two lower fastening members 61b and 61c joined to both ends of the
lower U-shaped part 61a. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower U-shaped
part 61a is formed by folding the metal plate in the shape of a
letter U, and coupled to the braided shield component 62 by
inserting and holding one end portion (the lower end portion in
FIG. 5) of the braided shield component 62 within the U shape. In
this way, the one end portion of the braided shield component 62 is
coupled to the lower bracket 61. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B, each
of the lower fastening members 61b and 61c is formed by extending
both lateral (x-direction) ends of a plate part 61a1, which is one
of two opposing plate parts 61a1 and 61a2 that constitute the lower
U-shaped part 61a, so as to be longer than both lateral ends of the
other plate part 61a2 and bending the extended ends of the plate
part 61a1. A hole 61d (FIG. 6B) used for screw fixation to the
lower case 23 is formed in a tip end portion of each of the lower
fastening members 61b and 61c.
The upper bracket 64 is formed of a metal plate and equipped with
the upper U-shaped part 64a placed in an intermediate region and
two upper fastening members 64b joined to both ends of the upper
U-shaped part 64a. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper U-shaped part 64a
is formed by folding the metal plate in the shape of a letter U,
and coupled to the braided shield component 62 by inserting and
holding the other end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 5) of
the braided shield component 62 within the U shape. In this way,
the other end portion of the braided shield component 62 is coupled
to the upper bracket 64. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B, each of the
upper fastening members 64b is formed by extending both lateral
(x-direction) ends of a plate part 64a1, which is one of two
opposing plate parts 64a1 and 64a2 that constitute the upper
U-shaped part 64a, so as to be longer than both lateral ends of the
other plate part 64a2 and bending the extended ends of the plate
part 64a1. A hole 64c (FIG. 6B) used for screw fixation to the
upper metal plate 50 is formed in a tip end portion of each of the
upper fastening members 64b. The lower bracket 61 and the upper
bracket 64 are formed, for example, of a cold rolled steel sheet
provided with conductive plating.
In the shield unit 60 structured as described above, the caulking
parts 46a formed in some regions of the lower fastening metal
fixture 46 are fixed, as shown in FIG. 4A, by caulking to an end
portion (the lower end portion in FIG. 4A) on a folded back side of
the lower U-shaped part 61a. In this way, one end portion (the
lower end portion in FIG. 4A) of the shield unit 60 is fixed to the
lower connector 43. Meanwhile, each of the upper fastening parts
64b in the shield unit 60 is coupled by means of the screw 65 to
the upper metal plate 50 of the upper connector 47 in the combined
electric wire component 41. The upper fastening parts 64b may be
coupled to the upper metal plate 50 using bolts and nuts. In this
way, the other end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 4A) of
the shield unit 60 is fixed to the upper connector 47. Thus, both
of the end portions of the shield unit 60 are coupled to the
combined electric wire component 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 5,
the braided shield component 62 is solely arranged on one side of
the plurality of electric wires 42 (on the right-hand side in FIG.
5).
A caulking part may be formed in an end edge portion (the lower end
portion in FIG. 6A) on an upper bracket 64 side of the upper metal
plate 50, and the upper U-shaped part 64a in the shield unit 60 may
be coupled through the formed caulking part to the upper metal
plate 50.
Referring back to FIG. 3B, the lower bracket 61 of the shield unit
60 is secured by screwing screws 23a into not-illustrated tapped
holes formed in the upper end portion of the lower case 23. As a
result of this, one end portion of the shielded electric wire
component 40 is fixed to the lower case 23.
Referring back to FIG. 2, the upper metal plate 50 of the upper
connector 47 is secured by screwing screws 31c into not-illustrated
tapped holes formed in an end portion of the upper case 31 on a
first wall surface P1 side. As a result of this, the other end
portion of the shielded electric wire component 40 is fixed to the
upper case 31.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, each of the first terminal fittings
42b fixed to the lower connector 43 is coupled to a corresponding
one of the terminal fittings 24a of the lower terminal base 24
using a bolt 25. This allows one ends of the electric wires 42 to
be connected to the lower terminal base 24 directly below the upper
case 31. In this state, a lower cover 52 is put over the lower
connector 43 to cover a coupling region of the terminal fittings
42b and 24a. In FIGS. 4A and 6A, diagrams are shown in a state
where the lower cover 52 is removed.
Each of the second terminal fittings 42c fixed to the upper
connector 47 is coupled to a corresponding one of the terminal
fittings 34a of the upper terminal base 34 using a bolt 35. This
allows the other ends of the electric wires 42 to be connected to
the upper terminal base 34 in the end portion of the upper case 31
on the first wall surface P1 side. In this state, an upper cover 53
is put over the upper connector 47 to cover a coupling region of
the terminal fittings 49 and 34a. In FIGS. 1B, 4A, and 6A, diagrams
are shown in a state where the upper cover 53 is removed.
Under a condition that the electric wires 42 are coupled to the
terminal bases 24 and 34 in the lower case 23 and the upper case 31
as described above, the braided shield component 62 is connected
via the upper bracket 64 and the upper metal plate 50 to the upper
case 31. The upper bracket 64 and the upper metal plate 50
constitute a first fastening member formed of an electrically
conductive material.
In addition, the braided shield component 62 is connected via the
lower bracket 61 to the lower case 23. The lower bracket 61
corresponds to a second fastening member formed of an electrically
conductive material. In this way, the electromagnetic wave
shielding structure is formed. It should be noted that the shielded
electric wire component 40 is bent from a position directly below
the upper unit 30 to a position opposed to the first wall surface
P1 and placed in the bent state. In this state, the braided shield
component 62 is placed only on an opposite side of the electric
wires 42 from the face F (FIGS. 3A and 5) which is opposed to a
bottom surface P5 and the first wall surface P1 of the upper case
31. Further, the longitudinal sections 62a (FIG. 6B) of the braided
shield component 62 are placed so as to be substantially parallel
to arrangement paths of the electric wires 42. Accordingly, the
braided shield component 62 extends along the electric wires
42.
According to the above-described arrangement, the electromagnetic
wave shielding structure including the braided shield component 62
can function to reduce electromagnetic wave noise, which is
radiation noise of electromagnetic waves generated in each of the
electric wires 42. There are two types of electromagnetic wave
noise, one of which is emitted from the electric wires 42
themselves as electromagnetic waves generated by three-phase
alternating currents for the motor 21 and the generator 22. This
type of electromagnetic wave noise exerts an influence on vehicle
accessories, such as, for example, a radio set. The other type of
electromagnetic wave noise is generated based on switching of the
inverters 32 and 33. This type of noise based on the switching of
the inverters 32 and 33 is referred to as conduction noise. The
conduction noise is created as radiation noise throughout a circuit
for connecting in order of the inverter 32 (or 33).fwdarw.electric
wires 42.fwdarw.motor 21 (or generator 22).fwdarw.electric wires
42.fwdarw.inverter 32 (or 33). The above-described two types of
noise are mixedly created. In this embodiment, the above-described
two types of noise can both be reduced.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the
electromagnetic wave shielding structure suppresses an influence of
the electromagnetic wave noise from being exerted on the outside.
In FIG. 7, the upper case 31 and the lower case 23 are
schematically shown as rectangular solids. Further, a single
electric wire 42 schematically shown in a straight shape is
connected to the upper case 31 and the lower case 23. The braided
shield component 62 is disposed on one side (a paper surface side
in FIG. 7) of the electric wire 42. Both ends of each of the
longitudinal sections 62a constituting the first metal wire 62b of
the braided shield component 62 are connected to the upper case 31
and the lower case 23. One of the longitudinal sections 62a of the
first metal wire 62b and the lateral sections 62c of the second
metal wire 62d are woven across the other of the longitudinal
sections 62a and the lateral sections 62c.
As noise currents flowing through the electric wire 42, there may
be, for example, a noise current that flows through the electric
wire 42 from a lower case 23 side toward an upper case 31 side as
shown by a broken line arrow a in FIG. 7. Meanwhile, the
longitudinal sections 62a are connected to both the upper case 31
and the lower case 23. Further, a ground of a circuit (not shown)
contained in the lower case 23 is connected to the lower case 23,
and a ground of a circuit (not shown) contained in the upper case
31 is connected to the upper case 31. This configuration causes the
noise current that has flowed through the electric wire 42 in a
direction along the broken line arrow a to further flow through the
longitudinal sections 62a from the upper case 31 to the lower case
23 in a direction opposite to the direction of the noise current
flowing through the electric wire 42. In this situation, the
longitudinal sections 62a create feedback paths for the noise
current. Accordingly, an electromagnetic field generated by the
current flowing through the electric wire 42 can be cancelled by an
electromagnetic field generated by the current flowing through the
longitudinal sections 62a, which can, in turn, suppress
electromagnetic noise from being emitted to the outside. Here, it
is more preferable that one ends of the longitudinal sections 62a
in the braided shield component 62 are connected to both the lower
case 23 and the ground of the circuit contained in the lower case
23, while the other ends of the longitudinal sections 62a are
connected to both the upper case 31 and the ground of the circuit
contained in the upper case 31. This configuration facilitates
formation of the feedback paths for the noise current in the
braided shield component 62. For example, the lower bracket 61
(FIG. 6B) in the braided shield component 62 may be connected with
a bolt or the like to the lower case 23 and the circuit ground
contained in the lower case 23, while the upper bracket 64 (FIG.
6B) may be connected with a bolt or the like to the upper case 31
and the circuit ground contained in the upper case 31.
Further, according to the embodiment, the braided shield component
62 is placed only on the other side of the electric wires 42 from
the face F which is opposed to the bottom surface P5 and the first
wall surface P1 of the upper case 31. For this reason, even in a
bent arrangement, the shielding electric wire component 40 can be
easily bent and placed along a desired direction, as distinct from
a case where a sleeve-shaped braided shield component is provided
so as to surround the shielded electric wire component. In
particular, when the plurality of electric wire main bodies 42a are
arranged in a single line as described in the embodiment, a
circumferential length surrounding the electric wires 42 is
increased. Even in this case, easiness in operation to bend the
shielded electric wire component 40 in a desired direction can be
ensured according to the embodiment. This contributes to improved
work efficiency in installation of the shielded electric wire
component 40. Further, an area of the braided shield component 62
can be reduced, which can lead to cost reduction. As a result,
improved work efficiency in installation of the electric wire
connecting structure 10 and reduced costs can be both obtained.
Still further, because the distance H between the lower unit 20 and
the upper unit 30 can be reduced as described above, it becomes
possible to minimize the entire length of the shielding electric
wire component 40. This allows the braided shield component 62 to
have a practically sufficient capability of reducing the
electromagnetic noise emitted to the outside even when the braided
shield component 62 is provided only on one side of the electric
wires 42 as described above.
It should be noted that although the arrangement of the upper
terminal base 34 attached to the plate part including the first
wall surface P1 of the upper case 31 has been described above,
there is no limitation to a region of the upper case 31 to which
the upper terminal base 34 is attached. Further, the upper terminal
base 34 may be placed in the end portion of the upper case 31 on
any one of the second wall surface P2, the third wall surface P3,
and the fourth wall surface P4, and a placement position of the
shielded electric wire component 40 may be changed depending on the
placement of the upper terminal base 34.
As a comparative example, an arrangement is considered in which the
braided shield component 62 is placed only on a surface side of the
electric wires 42 opposed to the upper unit 30. Because, in the
comparative example, it becomes necessary for the braided shield
component 62 to be bent at a more acute angle, in the comparative
example, there is plenty of scope for improvement in light of
maintaining bendability of the braided shield component 62 along a
desired direction. Moreover, on the surface side (an opposing side)
of the electric wires 42 opposed to the upper unit 30, the
electromagnetic wave noise created in the electric wires 42 is
likely to be blocked by the upper unit 30. Because of this, the
braided shield component 62 in the comparative example produces
little effect in reducing the electromagnetic wave noise.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing another example of the
shielded electric wire component 40 constituting an electric wire
connecting structure, and FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken
along a line E-E shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an
exploded state of the shield unit 60 constituting the shielded
electric wire component 40 in FIG. 8A. In the other comparative
example, the entire peripheries of the electric wires 42 arranged
side by side along the x direction are covered by a braided shield
component 74 formed in the shape of a sleeve. As shown in FIG. 9,
the shield unit 60 includes a braided shield component 74, lower
brackets 70 and 71, and upper brackets 72 and 73. The braided
shield component 74 has a greater length along the lateral
direction (x direction) in a state separated from the combined
electric wire component 41 (FIG. 8A). Each pair of the lower
brackets 70 and 71 and of the upper brackets 72 and 73 is attached
to either end portion of the braided shield component 74. The
braided shield component 74 is formed in the sleeve shape by
folding the braided shield component 74 along, for example, chain
lines L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 9. In the forming of the sleeve shape
of the braided shield component 74, the two lower brackets 70 and
71 are superimposed so as to be opposed to each other, and the two
upper brackets 72 and 73 are superimposed so as to be opposed to
each other. In the superimposed state, a recess and a projection
formed in regions on the other side from regions respectively
indicated as Q1 and Q2 in FIG. 9 are fitted to each other by
caulking, and a recess and a projection formed in regions on the
other side from regions respectively indicated as Q3 and Q4 are
fitted to each other by caulking. In this way, opposing brackets of
the brackets Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are joined to each other. In FIG.
9, a caulking part is formed by folding a projection S formed on
one of the two upper brackets 72 and 73, i.e. the bracket 73 toward
the other bracket 72. Also using the formed caulking part, the
upper brackets 72 and 73 are connected to each other. In the
above-described comparative example, the number of brackets, such
as the brackets 70, 71, 72, and 73, is increased, and additional
caulking and joining steps are introduced, which may cause an
increase in cost.
Further, when the shielded electric wire component 40 in the
comparative example shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9 is placed in a
bent state, it is necessary for both end portions of the
sleeve-shaped braided shield component 74 along the x direction to
be crushingly deformed in bending portions as indicated by chain
double-dashed lines .beta. in FIG. 8B. In this regard, it is
difficult to perform a bending operation along a desired direction
in the comparative example. Such a disadvantage in the comparative
example can be solved in the above-described embodiment.
Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the electric wires 42
having one end connected to the lower connector 43 and the other
end connected to the upper connector 47 constitute the combined
electric wire component 41. In addition, the lower connector 43 is
secured to the lower case 23, while the upper connector 47 is
secured to the upper case 31. Further, both ends of the braided
shield component 62 are connected to the lower connector 43 and the
upper connector 47. In this way, the both ends of the braided
shield component 62 are coupled via the lower connector 43 and the
upper connector 47 to the lower case 23 and the upper case 31. This
eliminates the necessity to fasten a longitudinal middle portion of
the braided shield component 62 to the electric wires 42 and couple
the braided shield component 62 to the lower case 23 and the upper
case 31. Accordingly, the braided shield component 62 and the
electric wires 42 can be easily bent in a desired direction, which
can lead to further improved work efficiency in installation of the
shielded electric wire component 40.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a braided shield component
81 which constitutes a part of another example of the shielded
electric wire connecting structure according to the embodiment. In
the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the braided shield
component 62 is formed by weaving one of the first metal wire 62b
and the second metal wire 62d across the other of the metal wires
62b and 62d. On the other hand, in the structure of the other
example illustrated in FIG. 10, the braided shield component 82 is
extended along the electric wires 42 (see FIG. 2 and elsewhere) and
connected to the upper bracket 64 and the lower bracket 61.
Further, the braided shield component 81 is composed of a plurality
of metal wires 63 functioning as the warp sections and a weft
member 82b. The weft member 82b includes lateral sections 82a which
are weft sections woven across the plurality of metal wires 63. The
plurality of metal wires 63 are mutually spaced along the lateral x
direction and arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each
of the metal wires 63 is formed, for example, of a copper wire.
On the other hand, the weft member 82b is formed of a resin
material. The resin weft member 82b has a greater tensile strength
per unit cross sectional area than that obtained in a case where
the weft member 82b is formed of copper. As the resin material, a
specific resin material is selected in light of the greater tensile
strength per unit cross sectional area of the weft member 82b. For
example, nylon 66 may be selected as the resin material.
Further, the weft member 82b is woven across the plurality of metal
wires 63 by means of the braiding machine (not shown in the
drawing). For example, the weft member 82b is woven across the
plurality of metal wires 63 along directions indicated by arrows
.gamma. in FIG. 10. At the time of weaving, a part of the weft
member 82b is held, for example, by a gripper of the braiding
machine and moved while being pulled along the directions of the
arrows .gamma. shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, a degree of efficiency
of producing the braided shield component 81 is greatly affected by
a moving speed of the weft member 82b.
In this connection, when the above weft member 82b is formed of a
copper wire in the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B to 7, an
allowable upper limit of the moving speed of the weft member 82b
will be held relatively lower due to an influence of the tensile
strength of the copper wire. Because of this, there is plenty of
scope for improvement in production efficiency. Although it is
conceivable that the tensile strength can be increased by
increasing a cross sectional area of the copper wire used for the
weft member 82b, the increased cross sectional area may result in
increased costs. The above-described structure according to the
other example is designed with the intention of increasing the
production efficiency.
In addition, a wire composed of nylon 66 (nylon wire) has a tensile
strength greater than that of a copper wire whose cross sectional
area is equal to the nylon wire. According to findings of the
present inventors, a copper wire of 120 .mu.m in diameter had a
tensile strength of 260 cN and an elongation of 22% at breakage,
while the wire formed of nylon 66 had a tensile strength of 740 cN
and an elongation of 55% at breakage. Meanwhile, when nylon 66 is
used for the weft member 82b, a heat resistant property of the weft
member 82b can be increased. This can contribute to improved
durability of the shielded electric wire connecting structure,
which is advantageous in a case where the shielded electric wire
connecting structure is used under a high temperature environment,
such as an engine room.
In the structure according to the other example described above,
the feedback paths of the noise current are created by the metal
wires 63, as in the case of the structure explained with reference
to FIG. 7, which means that electrical conductivity of the metal
wires 63 has an influence on the effect of the braided shield
component 81 for reducing externally emitted electromagnetic wave
noise, while electrical conductivity of the weft member 82b has no
influence on the effect. For this reason, electromagnetic wave
shielding performance is not deteriorated even when a resin
material is used for the weft member 82b. Further, because the
resin weft member 82b has a tensile strength per unit cross
sectional area greater than that of a copper weft member 82b, the
resistance of the weft member 82b to a pulling force is accordingly
increased. Because of this, it becomes possible to increase a speed
of braiding the braided shield component 81 in a case where the
weft member 82b is woven across the metal wires 63 while being
pulled by the braiding machine, which can contribute to improved
production efficiency. Moreover, it is also possible to reduce
material costs of the weft member 82b. Consequently, improved
strength and reduced costs of the braided shield component 81 can
both be achieved without impairing the electromagnetic wave
shielding performance. Components and effects other than those
described above are similar to those of the structure illustrated
in FIGS. 1A and 1B to 7. It should be noted that electrically
conductive resin element wires may be used in place of the metal
wires 63 used for forming the braided shield component 81.
Further, the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B to 7 has been
described with reference to the example in which the braided shield
component is formed of the corrugated metal wire or conductive
resin element wire having the plurality of longitudinal sections.
Meanwhile, in the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B to 7, a
plurality of linear metal wires or conductive resin element wires
formed of the longitudinal sections that function as the warp
sections may be arranged substantially parallel to each other, and
the weft member may be woven across the plurality of longitudinal
sections to form the braided shield component. In addition, the
structure illustrated in FIG. 10 has been described with reference
to the example in which the braided shield component includes the
metal wires 63 functioning as the plurality of warp sections
arranged substantially in parallel with each other. Meanwhile, in
the structure of FIG. 10, the braided shield component may be
configured to include the corrugated metal wire or conductive resin
element wire having the longitudinal sections functioning as the
plurality of substantially parallel warp sections.
Moreover, in each of the above described examples, both ends of the
electric wire may be connected to the lower terminal base 24 and
the upper terminal base 34 without being fastened to the lower case
and the upper case by means of the connectors 43 and 47.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
10 shielded electric wire connecting structure (electric wire
connecting structure); 20 lower unit; 21 motor; 22 generator; 23
lower case; 23a screw; 24 lower terminal base; 24a terminal
fitting; 25 bolt; 30 upper unit; 31 upper case; 31a plate part; 31b
opening; 31c screw; 32 first inverter; 33 second inverter; 34 upper
terminal base; 34a terminal fitting; 40 shielded electric wire
component; 41 combined electric wire component; 42 electric wire;
42a electric wire main body; 42b first terminal fitting; 42c second
terminal fitting; 42d conductor element wire; 42e insulating tube;
43 lower connector; 44 lower connector main body; 44a lower tube
part; 46 lower fastening metal fixture; 46a caulking part; 47 upper
connector; 48 upper connector main body; 48a upper tube part; 48b
through hole; 50 upper metal plate; 51 hole; 52 lower cover; 53
upper cover; 60 shield unit; 61 lower bracket; 61a lower U-shaped
part; 61b, 61c lower fastening member; 62 braided shield component;
62a longitudinal section; 62b first metal wire; 62c lateral
section; 62d second metal wire; 63 metal wire; 64 upper bracket;
64a upper U-shaped part; 64b upper fastening member; 65 screw; 70,
71 lower bracket; 72, 73 upper bracket; 74 braided shield
component; 80 bracket; 81 braided shield component; 82a lateral
section; 82b weft member.
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